Was This Basement in Księży Młyn in Łódź a Hiding Place for Jews?

Krzysztof Bielawski, 16 November 2016
A site has been discovered in Łódź where Jews hid during the Holocaust. At least that's what the residents claim. The City Council is now trying to establish the facts.

The issue came to light a few days ago during demolition works at 91 Przędzalniana Street, on the grounds of the old Księży Młyn factory complex.

Workers discovered basements under the floorboards of one of the timber buildings. Local residents claim that, during the War, Jews were hidden within them.

These underground cells are quite small. They are only a few dozen centimetres high. To fit inside, people would have had to be seated, which was not unusual in other places where Jews were hidden.  

The Łódż City Council has now taken an interest in the basements. Council officials called a meeting on Friday to discuss the matter.

"We have information from various sources which is difficult to verify. If someone knows or has heard anything on this subject, please let us know. Every piece of information counts", states the Łódż City Council on its Facebook page.

Archeologists are now also at work in Księży Młyn. Perhaps they will find something which will confirm the residents' stories.